Strip club agrees to temporarily close after deadly shooting

MUNHALL, Pa — The owner of a Munhall strip club where a deadly shooting took place over the weekend has agreed to temporarily close.

Investigators said Paul Barone shot and killed John Sumpter as he sat in a car near Club Pink on East Eight Street early Sunday morning.

According to the criminal complaint, a Munhall officer heard the gunshots and saw an Audi leaving the scene. Police said they chased the car and eventually arrested Barone and two other men. Barone is facing criminal homicide charges.

The owner of Club Pink met with representatives of the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office Tuesday and agreed to close the club until March 15 pending the correction of numerous deficiencies.

The district attorney’s office said if the deficiencies aren’t corrected during the nine-day “cooling off” period, the club will be forced to close again.

The owner of the club told Channel 11’s Brandon Hudson that he agreed to the temporary closure to make sure there are no retaliation shootings.

He also said he’ll cut back his hours of operation when he reopens. The club used to be open past 4 a.m., but now it will only be open from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. The club will also increase security and surveillance cameras.

The club faces a zoning hearing on March 20 at which time the Munhall borough solicitor will detail all of the violations.

The result of that hearing may also involve an order to cease operations.

WPXI